Thermal energy storage provider Antora Energy has closed a $550 million Series C funding round to accelerate deployment of its thermal battery systems for industrial facilities and data centers in the United States. While not a lithium-ion BESS, the raise is significant for the broader storage sector as it demonstrates investor willingness to fund alternative long-duration storage technologies. Antora’s systems store energy as heat and deliver both electricity and industrial process heat, addressing a segment of the market that electrochemical batteries cannot serve. The funding round, one of the largest for a non-lithium storage technology this year, signals growing diversification in the U.S. storage investment landscape beyond conventional battery chemistries.

Power firm Axpo and independent power producer Zelestra have entered into a long-term tolling agreement for a battery energy storage project in northern Italy. This marks Zelestra’s second such tolling deal in July, underscoring the company’s aggressive expansion into the Italian storage market. Tolling structures are becoming increasingly common in European BESS project finance, as they provide offtake certainty while allowing developers to retain merchant upside exposure. Italy’s storage market is accelerating due to the country’s high solar penetration, grid congestion in the south, and regulatory reforms enabling standalone storage participation in energy markets. The Axpo-Zelestra deal adds to the growing pipeline of contracted Italian BESS capacity.

Greenvolt Power has inaugurated the 200 MW Turośń Kościelna Battery Energy Storage Facility in Poland, with energy trading and optimization services to be provided by Entrix. The project is one of the largest operational battery storage facilities in Poland and represents a significant milestone for the country’s emerging storage market. Poland’s grid is undergoing rapid transformation as coal retirements accelerate and renewable targets tighten, creating urgent demand for flexible capacity. The Turośń Kościelna facility will provide frequency regulation, capacity, and energy arbitrage services to the Polish power market. Entrix’s involvement as optimizer highlights the growing role of specialized energy traders in maximizing BESS revenue stacks in European markets.

Aecon Group has executed an agreement with Ontario’s Independent Electricity System Operator (IESO) for the 150 MW / 1,200 MWh Simcoe energy storage project in Norfolk County, Ontario. The eight-hour duration project is among the longer-duration battery storage assets under development in Canada and is designed to provide capacity and energy shifting services to the Ontario grid. The IESO agreement provides revenue certainty through Ontario’s capacity market framework, addressing a key bankability challenge for Canadian storage developers. The Simcoe project reflects Ontario’s strategic emphasis on storage to manage nuclear baseload inflexibility and integrate growing renewable generation. Aecon’s execution of the agreement signals a firm commitment to delivery.

Avantus announced that its Aratina 1 project has reached commercial operations, delivering 200 MW of solar and 500 MWh of energy storage to the California grid. The project is located in Kern County and will provide energy and capacity services to the CAISO market, supporting California’s reliability needs during evening ramp periods and summer peak events. Aratina 1’s COD adds to the growing inventory of operational solar-plus-storage assets in the CAISO footprint, which remains the most mature market for co-located renewable and battery projects in the United States. The project’s operational status also validates Avantus’ development and construction execution platform as the company continues to scale its portfolio.

The Maryland Public Service Commission held a public hearing on Round 1 of the Next Generation Energy Act, reviewing four transmission-connected battery storage proposals totaling 1,240 MW. The projects include the 500 MW / 6-hour Oystercatcher Energy Storage Project, the 300 MW / 4-hour Fourth Quarter BESS Project, the 400 MW / 4-hour Chalk Point Storage Project, and the 40 MW / 4-hour Jade Meadow III Battery Storage Project. The Commission is expected to issue decisions on Energy Storage Capacity Credits by October 1, 2026. This proceeding represents one of the most significant state-level storage procurement processes in the U.S. this year and could establish precedent for how transmission-connected storage is valued and compensated in the PJM region.

Veolia has been selected to operate and maintain a 350 MW microgrid powering an AI data center campus in New Albany, Ohio, which includes a 430 MWh battery energy storage system. The project highlights the convergence of AI-driven data center load growth and behind-the-meter / front-of-meter storage deployment. As hyperscalers seek reliable, low-carbon power for AI training and inference workloads, integrated microgrids with large-scale BESS are emerging as a preferred solution. Veolia’s selection as O&M provider reflects the growing need for specialized asset management expertise in complex hybrid systems. The project also illustrates how AIDC-related demand is becoming a tangible driver for U.S. storage deployment beyond traditional renewable pairing applications.

Independent power producer Eolian has commenced construction on the Flint Grid, a 200 MW / 1.06 GWh energy storage project located in Jersey Township, Licking County, Ohio. The project represents one of the larger standalone battery storage developments in the PJM interconnection region and is designed to provide capacity, energy arbitrage, and ancillary services to the Midwest grid. Ohio has seen accelerating BESS development activity as developers target the state’s favorable interconnection queue positions and growing demand from data center load growth. The groundbreaking signals a transition from permitting and financing to execution, with the project expected to contribute to PJM’s resource adequacy requirements upon completion.

Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners has submitted a 520 MW standalone battery energy storage system in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) for assessment under the federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act. The submission represents a major regulatory milestone for what could become one of the largest standalone BESS assets in the ACT. The project is designed to support the ACT’s 100% renewable electricity target by providing firming capacity for intermittent wind and solar generation. EPBC approval is a critical path item for projects of this scale, and the submission indicates advanced development status. If approved, the project would significantly bolster the ACT’s storage fleet and serve as a template for large-scale urban-adjacent BESS deployments.

Neoen Australia has broken ground on a 227 MW / 907 MWh grid-forming battery energy storage system in South Australia. The project is notable for its grid-forming capabilities, which allow the battery to provide synthetic inertia and voltage support—critical services as South Australia operates with high renewable penetration. This marks a significant step in the evolution of battery storage from energy arbitrage assets to essential grid infrastructure. The project aligns with AEMO’s system strength requirements and reinforces South Australia’s position as a global testbed for high-renewable grid architecture. Construction commencement signals a firm delivery timeline, with commercial operations expected in the near term